Explosive composition and the manufacture thereof



Patented Sept. 26, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

EDWARD III. WERNER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOYNESITE EXELO- SIVES COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

EXPLOSIVE GOMIPOSITION AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF.

No Drawing.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. l/VERNER, a citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosive Compositions and the Manufacture Thereof, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to explosive compositions and the manufacture thereof, and more particularly to the class of explosives known as chlorate explosives.

The principal object of this invention is to produce an explosive composition which is plastic, practically waterproof and capable of long storage without deterioration.

A further object is to increase the com-, mercial value of chlorate explosives for general blasting operations by increasing the rate of detonation thereof.

Heretofore chlorate compositions have been made plastic by the addition of nitrobenzol (oil of mirlane) but this oil is very volatile and difiicult to retain in the explosive for any great length of time. I have discovered that this difliculty can be overcome by adding an oil soluble gum, preferably colophony (resin) to the nitrobenzol prior to its mixture with the explosive material. The resin is dissolved in the nitrobenzol prior to mixture with the explosive material .in the proportion of approximately 1 part resin to 1 parts of nitrobenzol. In produc ing an explosive in accordance with my invention the nitrobenzol carrying the above specified proportion of resin in solution is intimately mixed with the chlorate base and compressed to the desired density in 'cartridges. On standing, a slight amount of oil evaporates from the outer surface of the explosive content, leaving a protective coat or shell of resin which is practically water- 'proof and efiectually prevents further volatilization. By utilizing an oil composed of nitrobenzol and resin, the explosive can be packed into the cartridge to extreme density, with the consequent increase of explosive force per unit volume of explosive.

Serial No. 515,268.

I have discovered that the addition of finely divided aluminum increases the speed of the detonating wave. I have also found that when powdered aluminum is added in quantities of from 3% to 10% the speed of detonation is greatly increased and that within these limits the speed of detonation increases as the percentage of aluminum is increased.

The following is given as an example of an explosive composition embodying my invention, it being understood that the percentage of the ingredients is variable for different grades:

Per cent. Sodium or potassium chlorate 709; Sugar 18 Aluminum powder 3 Oil 75} The oil is composed of one part resin to four parts nitrobenzol.

What I claim is:

1. An explosive composition including in. its ingredients, an alkali metal chlorate mixed with a solution of nitrobenzol and resin.

2. An explosive composition including in its ingredients, an alkali metal chlorate mixed with a solution of 4: parts of nitro benzol and 1 part of resin.

An explosive composition consisting of a compressed mass, the interior of which is plastic and contains an alkali metal chlorate mixed with a solution of nitrobenzol and resin; the exterior of said mass being covered by a protective shell of resin. v

4. The method of making an explosive composition which consists in mixing a base consisting of the chlorate of an alkali metal with a solution of nitrobenzol and resin; compressing said mixture; and then permitting the volatili'zation of the nitrobenzol at the surface of the mass whereby a protective surface coating or shell of resin is produced and the solution of nitrobenzol retained within the mass.

Signed by me this 27th day of October, 1921.

EDWARD M. WERNER 

